Little League Football Division Constitution

INDEX

Section

Constitution
1 Name
2 Objects
3 Powers
4 Membership
5 Divisional Executive Committee
6 Reimbursement of Expenses
7 Finance
8 Trust Property
9 The Procedure
10 Dissolution
11 Alterations to the Constitution
12 Notices
13 Interpretation

Section

Procedure
1 Committee Meetings
2 Election of Officers and Auditors
3 Finance
4 Affiliation
5 Divisional Structure
6 Alterations to the Procedure

Constitution

1

Name
1.1 The name of the Association shall be............................ Division, Little League Football (hereinafter called the "Division"). The name of the governing body of the Division shall be the Divisional Executive Committee.

 
1.2 The basic units of the Division shall be known as Leagues. Each League shall be placed within a Division in accordance with the Procedure.
1.3 Leagues shall affiliate to Little League Football (hereinafter called "the Federation") in accordance with the Procedure. The name of the governing body of the Federation shall be the National Executive Committee.
1.4 The Federation shall be divided into a number of Divisions
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2

Objects
The objects of the Division shall be to provide children of school age with facilities for recreation or other leisure time occupation in the interests of social welfare with the object of improving the conditions of life of such persons
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3

Powers
In furtherance of the above objects but not otherwise each Divisional Executive Committee may:
3.1 Do all such things as shall further the proper administration and operation of all Leagues within that Division and to encourage the highest standards of equipment and procedure.
3.2 Promote and assist in the formation of Leagues.
3.3 Do all such things as shall further the organisation, supervision and control of football matches and other games and sports.
3.4 Provide or assist in the provision of training for those children and officials registered with the constituent Leagues.
3.5 Assist any charitable body or bodies financially or otherwise.
3.6 Raise funds and invite and receive contributions from any person or persons whatsoever by way of subscriptions and otherwise, provided that the Division shall not undertake any permanent trading activities in raising funds for its primary charitable objects.
3.7 Subject to such consents as may be required by law, to borrow or raise money for the objects of the Division on such terms and on such security as shall be deemed to be necessary.
3.8 Invest the monies of the Division not immediately required for the said objects in or upon such investments, securities or property as may be thought fit, subject nevertheless to such conditions (if any) as may for the time being be imposed or required by law.
3.9 Purchase, take on lease or in exchange, hire or otherwise acquire any property and any rights and privileges necessary for the promotion of the said objects and construct, maintain and alter any buildings, or erections necessary for the work of the Division.
3.10 Make regulations for any property which may be so acquired.
3.11 Sell, let, mortgage, dispose of or turn to account all or any of the property or assets of the Division.
3.12 Do all such other things as shall further the attainment of the above objects.
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4

Membership
4.1 Members of the Division shall be Honorary Members and Individual Members.
4.2 Honorary Members shall be appointed at a Divisional Executive Committee meeting, in accordance with the Procedure.
4.3 An Individual Member may be accepted by a League only, and if so accepted shall become an Individual Member of that League and also an Individual Member of the Division.
4.4 Only those holding Individual Membership may stand for election to any Little League Football Committee, or continue to hold any Committee position, except for those seeking election to, or holding, the honorary positions of President and Vice Presidents.
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5

Divisional Executive Committee
5.1 Subject as hereinafter mentioned, the policy and general management of the affairs of each Division shall be directed by the Divisional Executive Committee which shall consist of two representatives from each League within the Division.
5.2 The members of each Divisional Executive Committee shall elect annually three members from that Committee to act as:
Honorary Chairperson
Honorary Secretary
Honorary Treasurer
and shall elect such other officials as may be deemed necessary and approved by the Divisional Executive Committee.
5.3 In addition, the Divisional Executive Committee may co-opt up to four further persons who may serve for a period determined by the Divisional Executive Committee.
5.4 The Divisional Executive Committee may appoint such special or standing committees of their number as may be deemed necessary by the Divisional Executive Committee and may determine their terms of reference, powers, duration and composition, provided that all acts and proceedings of such special or standing committees shall be reported back to the Divisional Executive Committee as soon as possible.
5.5 The proceedings of the Divisional Executive Committee shall not be invalidated by any failure to elect or defect in the election, appointment or qualification of any member.
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6

Reimbursement of Expenses
6.1 Each of the members of any committee as is mentioned in the foregoing clauses may in the discretion of the members of that committee be reimbursed out of the capital or income of the Division as the members of the committee may consider appropriate for any reasonable and proper out-of-pocket expenses which he/she shall actually have incurred for the purposes of carrying out his/her duties as a member of such a committee as aforesaid.
6.2 Any Trustee for the time being hereof being a solicitor or other person engaged in any profession shall be entitled to charge and be paid all usual professional and other charges for work done by him/her or his/her firm in connection with the execution of the trusts hereof.
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7

Finance
7.1 All money raised by or on behalf of the Division shall be applied to further the objects of the Division and for no other purpose.
7.2 The Honorary Treasurer of the Divisional Executive Committee shall keep proper accounts of the Division's finances.
7.3 Statements of accounts for the past financial year shall be submitted by the Divisional Executive Committee to the National Executive Committee and all League Management Committees within the Division.
7.4 A bank account shall be opened in the name of the Division with such bank as the Divisional Executive Committee shall from time to time decide. The Divisional Executive Committee shall authorise in writing the Honorary Treasurer and at least two other members of the Divisional Executive Committee to sign cheques on behalf of the Divisional Executive Committee. All cheques must be signed by not less than two of the authorised signatories.
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8

Trust Property
The title to all real or personal property which may be acquired by or on behalf of the Division may be vested in a Corporation lawfully entitled to act as Custodian Trustee or in not less than three individual persons or more individual persons than the number of Leagues within the Division. A Custodian Trustee may not be a member of the Divisional Executive Committee or any League Management Committee within the Division. Each League within the Division shall appoint one Custodian Trustee at a General Meeting of that League, and that Custodian Trustee may only be discharged at a subsequent meeting of that same League.
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9

The Procedure
The National Executive Committee shall draw up the rules of procedure of all meetings of the Division, and rules relating to Finance, Affiliation and Divisional Structure, which shall be known as "the Procedure".
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10

Dissolution
If the Divisional Executive Committee decide at any time that on the ground of expense or otherwise it is necessary or advisable to dissolve the Division it shall call a meeting of all members of the constituent Leagues of the Division of which meeting not less than 21 days notice (stating the terms of the Resolution to be proposed thereat) shall be given. If such a decision shall be confirmed at such meeting, the Divisional Executive Committee shall have the power to dispose of any assets held by or in the name of the Division. Any assets remaining after the satisfaction of any proper debts and liabilities shall be given or transferred to the constituent Leagues, or to the Federation, or to any charitable institution or institutions having objects similar to the objects of the Division as the Divisional Executive Committee may, with the approval of the Charity Commissioners, determine.
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11

Alterations to the Constitution
Any alteration of this Constitution shall receive the assent of a meeting of the Federation specially called for the purpose PROVIDED THAT notice of any such alteration shall have been received by the Honorary Secretary of the Federation in writing not less than 21 clear days before the meeting at which the alteration is to be brought forward. Notice in writing of such a meeting setting forth the terms of the alteration to be proposed shall be sent by the Honorary Secretary of the Federation to each Individual Member of the Federation at least 14 days prior to the meeting PROVIDED FURTHER THAT no alteration to Clauses 2, 10 or this Clause shall be made without the approval of the Charity Commissioners.
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12

Notices
Any notice may be served by the Honorary Secretary or any member of a constituent League either personally or by sending it through the post in a prepaid letter addressed to such member at his or her last known address and any letter so sent shall be deemed to have been received within 10 days of original posting. Notices and other information to be issued by the Honorary Secretary of the Divisional Executive Committee may be sent to the Honorary Secretary of each League who shall forward copies to each Individual Member of that League.
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13

Interpretation
The Interpretation Act, 1978, shall apply for the interpretation of this Constitution as it applies to the Interpretation of an Act of Parliament.
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Procedure

1

Committee Meetings
1.1 All Meetings of the Divisional Executive Committee shall be held at a venue, date, time and frequency determined by that Committee.
1.2 The Secretary shall give each Committee Member not less than one week's notice of every Meeting of the Committee, together with an Agenda, which shall include Minutes of the last Meeting and a Treasurer's Report.
1.3 Three Committee Members representing at least three Leagues, or such greater number as the Committee shall determine, shall form a quorum.
1.4 Attendance and Chairpersonship
1.4.1 If a Representative from any League Management Committee is unable to attend a Divisional Executive Committee Meeting, a Nominated Deputy Representative of that Committee may attend in his/her absence.
1.4.2 If the Chairperson is unable to attend a Meeting, the Committee Members present shall elect one of their number to be Chairperson for the Meeting.
1.5 Propositions, Amendments and their Determination
1.5.1 Propositions and Amendments, which must both be seconded, shall be determined by a simple majority.
1.5.2 All Committee Members present shall be entitled to a vote and in the case of an equality of votes, the Chairperson shall have a second or casting vote.
1.5.3 Should any Committee Member be holding two or more positions, he/she shall be entitled to one vote only.
1.6 Minutes
1.6.1 Minutes of each Meeting, which shall include a record of attendance, shall be kept by the Secretary and shall be circulated to all Committee Members and to the Secretaries of the National Executive and League Management Committees within that Division.
1.6.2 Minutes shall be approved at the next Committee Meeting and signed by the Chairperson.
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2

Election of Officers and Auditors
2.1 League Representatives to the Divisional Executive Committee shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting of the appropriate Leagues.
2.2 The positions of Divisional Executive Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer shall be decided by an election from their own number held annually by the Divisional Executive Committee.
2.3 The auditors shall retire annually but shall be eligible for re-election.
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3

Finance
3.1 The Financial Year of each Divisional Executive Committee shall be from 1st May in one year to the following 30th April, or such other dates as may be deemed necessary by the Committee.
3.2 Accounts of each Divisional Executive Committee shall be audited by Auditors appointed by the Committee and presented for adoption at the Divisional Executive Committee meeting at which the officers are elected.
3.3 A copy of the audited accounts for each Divisional Executive Committee shall be forwarded to the Secretary of the National Executive Committee and to the Secretary of each League Management Committee within that Division when the Accounts have been approved by the Divisional Executive Committee.
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4

Affiliation
All Leagues will affiliate to the appropriate Division at a fee of £20.00 per year, payable to the Divisional Executive Committee on 1st September to cover the period to the following 31st August.
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5

Divisional Structure
5.1 Each Division will consist of not more than six Leagues.
5.2 The National Executive Committee will place Leagues within a Division.
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6

Alterations to the Procedure
Propositions and Amendments to alter this Procedure may be submitted to a General Meeting of Little League Football in accordance with the provisions of sections 1 or 2 of the Procedure of the Federation, PROVIDED THAT no alteration to this Procedure shall be permitted that will conflict with the Constitution of the Federation or this Division.
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